Ahead of the 2027 general elections, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar on Thursday attended a closed-door meeting with leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition in Abuja.
The meeting, held at an undisclosed venue in the Federal Capital Territory, brought together key political figures including former Senate President and ADC National Chairman, David Mark; former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai; ex-Minister of Digital Economy, Isa Pantami; former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal; former Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatai Ahmed; and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
A Meeting Against the “Oligarchs”
Atiku confirmed his attendance in a post on X, describing the gathering as part of a wider resistance movement.
“I am currently at the stakeholders’ meeting of the Coalition African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Abuja,” he wrote. “It’s a meeting of the Nigerian people against the oligarchs who promote poverty and insecurity in the country.”
The former Vice-President stressed that the opposition bloc is determined to offer a credible alternative to President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Key Resolutions
Discussions focused on strengthening unity within the opposition and coordinating strategies ahead of the 2027 elections.
Top among the resolutions was the suspension of efforts to register the proposed All Democratic Alliance (ADA), which the coalition had earlier sought to register with the electoral commission.
ADC National Chairman David Mark presided over the session. Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, sent apologies but pledged his continued loyalty to the coalition.
According to ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, three major decisions were reached.
First, all presidential hopefuls agreed to support whoever emerges as the party’s candidate after the primaries.
Second, members were instructed to resign from other political parties and fully commit to the ADC.
Third, the National Working Committee will soon announce dates for primaries in Osun and Ekiti States, ahead of the off-cycle governorship elections.
A Growing Opposition Front
The African Democratic Congress, founded in 2005 as the Alliance for Democratic Change and registered by INEC in 2011, has become a rallying platform for opposition figures seeking to challenge the APC’s dominance in 2027.
The coalition was formally launched in July after months of consultations among politicians dissatisfied with the state of governance.
Prominent members include Uche Secondus, Rauf Aregbesola, Emeka Ihedioha, Dino Melaye, and former APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun.
While Thursday’s meeting reaffirmed the coalition’s commitment to unity, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rotimi Amaechi are among those expected to vie for the party’s presidential ticket.
ADC leaders insisted that the coalition is more than just a merger of political interests, describing it as a “rescue mission” to confront insecurity, economic hardship, and corruption.